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What is the most exciting part of organising Bordeaux Fete le Vin?

The sense of history! Bordeaux was first associated with wine in the 1st century AD, to-day the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, arguably the most important wine region in the world. Add incredible chateaux, the beautiful landscape of the vineyards and surrounding countryside, the cuisine, there's endless delights for the wine connaisseur and the curious traveller.

Can you explain the main features of the Festival?

Stands and pavilions featuring the 80 appellations from Bordeaux and Aquitaine, as well as major wine brands will form a 2 kilometer long “wine road” on the left bank of the River Garonne. This is a fantastic opportunity to discover the rich diversity of local wines, from 11am to midnight.

What's new this year?

The big innovation is the important place given to local cuisine. For the first time, as well as chef's tastings and teachings organised by the CIVB Wine School (Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin de Bordeaux) there will be Food Workshops, with wine pairings. Also new this year are three pavilions dedicated to South-Western specialities: foie gras from the Landes, dry cured ham from the Basque country, and Oysters from Arcachon Bay. “Bordo Mundo” is the wine and food village, decorated by the AOC (Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée), where the vineyards will showcase their vintages to match gastronomic dishes. This year one entire pavilion is dedicated to Quebec, the invited city of honour (previous cities of honour are Porto, Munich, Fukuoka and Saint-Petersbourg). The Mayor of Quebec will welcome guests to the pavilion where they can taste the cuisine of Franҫois Blais, chef at the prestigious Relais & Chateaux,L'Auberge Saint-Antoine de Québec. And as Québec Day happily falls on 24th June, the day will be dedicated to everything 100% Québecois. Chef Blais will also be working hand-in-hand with our local Michelin star chefs.

Who will launch the Festival opening?

Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux. On his initiative the city has developed into a magnificent destination showcasing more than 350 classified buildings and monuments.

How do we get around the city?

We're extremely proud of our state-of-the-art tramway system, there's also a clean and reliable bus service. Bordeaux is a very “walkable” city with extensive pedestrian only shopping areas, that's where the big brands such as Hermes, Cartier and Vuitton are found, so it's shoppers paradise without pollution.

What animations are there apart from food and wine?

Each night a firework display will close the evening on the riverside. But before that at 23 hrs, each evening, there will be an audiovisuel Son et Lumiere show, “Les Sens du Vin”, projected onto the handsome 18th century facades. There will also be a Music Festival, with some free concerts. On Friday 25th June, 75 musicians of L'Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine will be accompanied by the Choir of the Bordeaux Opera for a unique concert, the proceeds will be donated to La Voix de l'Enfant. Saturday “Marciac in Bordeaux” features jazz with tributes to Buena Vista Social Club and other jazz legends.

How do I make sure of my reservation?

You can reserve on line right now, we give you the keys to the kingdom and you create your own Festival! “The Tasting Pass” will cost you just 15€ and gives 12 tasting tickets, a glass and a glass holder as well as numerous coupons offering advantages and gifts. You can use this pass every day in the different pavilions.. “Pass Duo” is 20€ and entitles two people to all the benefits of the tasting pass – that means 12 tastings, 2 glasses and glass holders. Each day there's a multi-lingual themed excursion out of town: “Le Pass Vignobles” (costing between 50€ - 95€) takes you to vineyards to meet winemakers, say, “Saint Emilion” route de Patrimoine or “Art et Vin en Médoc” “Sauternes 1855, des Vins en Or”. The price of the pass includes transport, guide, 3 visits to chateaux, tastings and lunch, this will be great fun and explain, in simple terms, the wine making process from A to Z.

I've heard there's an initiation to “Bordeaux Cocktails”, can you explain this?

The Bordeaux Wine Schoolwww.bordeaux.com are planning wine initiation courses, with tastings, daily from 11h to 18h. Then, at “l'heure de l'aperitif”, the Michelin star chefs in association with l'AAPra (Association Aquitaine de Promotion Agroalimentaire) will create dishes to match the wines. From 20h-23h head for the stand of the Ecole de Vin where mixologists will demonstrate the art of Bordeaux cocktail making, to the sounds of music by a hip DJ. There's something for everyone here, you know in Bordeaux we give our babies wine corks to sniff when they are young – we have to keep the next generation keen on wine!

Margaret Kemp